Chapter 83: Clash on Lake Falair

　　The Nord army stormed into Thicket Town, establishing a fortified camp and securing the enthusiastic support of the locals. At this stage, Voxmire was still operating under the delusion that the Nords' true objective was to assault Vosalos; they focused their energy on preventing northern reinforcements from reaching that city, completely oblivious to the fact that the Nord host had struck directly northward to launch an attack on Koko.　　Long before the first blow was struck, Nord spies embedded in Koko had unearthed a web of corruption: the local Prefect had been in league with a gang of smugglers for years. Through these outlaws, this brazen official had conducted all manner of illicit trade to line his own pockets.　　The indolent citizenry of Koko remained steeped in their pleasures. They had never felt the sting of a siege, and they viewed the war as a distant affair that had nothing to do with them. Naturally, the critical importance of securing the food supply never even crossed their minds.　　During the interrogation of the captured smugglers, Nord officers learned that the smuggler vessels enjoyed "special considerations" from the Prefect, allowing them to slip in and out of Koko’s harbor without a hint of resistance. Some smugglers, through years of operation, were even on intimate terms with the harbor guards. This realization provided the Nords with a golden opportunity to strike at the heart of the city.　　Word of the approaching enemy soon swept through the streets. The locals maintained an air of indifferent a